10 ways to collect rainwater

The rains are here. With the prolonged dry season we have experienced as a country, the rainy season has come to settle the dust. This is not a time to celebrate but a time for action, not strategy. Strategies should have been already made when we had the dry season especially since the country has a Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Collecting rainwater is not as common in most building and houses in Nairobi. Most buildings have gutters that are positioned accurately to let rainwater from the roof flow to the ground. This is not a government issue but an individual solution. Although, policies on collecting rainwater from the roof, as mentioned in the Water Act 2016, should be considered and implemented. We actually have a Water Harvesting and Storage Authority within this act that is to assist the country in matters water harvesting.

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. – Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia 1732

Kenya itself is currently a water scarce country. With an increase in global population and urbanisation as well as climate change, demand for water is constantly on the high. When the country experiences water shortages, it affects the socio-economic development, the achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the global development agenda detailed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). South Africa is on the verge of a massive water shortage and as a country prevention is better than seeking expensive solutions. Therefore, we cannot say we will depend on the rains to provide water all year through. We should gain from the rainwater we have now and collect it and think of rainwater harvesting which is a positive step towards a change of attitude on the water that falls for ‘free’ from the sky (majorly because of tree cover). Rainwater will in the end still fall on the soils where it is intended to go.

How can we harvest rainwater at home for domestic use, at work, in our farms and even in the natural habitats for wild animals?

For a successful rainwater harvest method, we need to consider where rainwater falls; from the highest point to the lowest point. The highest point, in most cases, will be the roof of a house. Observing where water flows during a rainstorm to where it will penetrate into the soil which is important for long-term storage of water.

Gutters and Downspouts

This is always the first step when starting to harvest rainwater. This method involves installing gutters on the roof of a building and maximizing the surface area of the roof to collect rainwater. If your house or building does not have this already, you should consider installing them. Gutters and downspout can direct water to storage water systems near the house. They can also be used to direct water to a garden. Let us look into this options.

Rain Barrels

A rain barrel is a medium sized to a large container which collects water like a big bucket. The barrel can be customised with fittings such as a lid to prevent objects from getting in and sometimes a tap. A water barrel can be made from an old or unused trash can and even a drum. This is a simple and affordable way to store rainwater. Although this method is short term, one can choose to invest in many connecting drums or several drums around the homestead.

Water Tank

For large roofs, buildings can have water tanks which will store rainwater in thousands of litres. This can be outside water tanks or underground water tanks. A water tank does not have to be the conventional plastic one. They can also be built from concrete underground or above ground. Due to its large size, a water tank should be placed on a stable ground to prevent unwanted damage.

Bladder Tank

Rain Reservoir System

This system will benefit huge enterprises such as apartments and hotels. Consider collecting the rainwater that falls on the rooftop, whether a flat roof or a slanted one, run through pipes to a storage facility like a tank. This water is then filtered to purify the larger particles then stored in designated rainwater harvest tanks. This stored rainwater can be used for washing cars, watering gardens and even flushing toilets, minimising the use of underground water. Both the economy and the environment will benefit from this system as the energy bill will be minimised and energy saved respectively.

Create a rain garden

Do you have space in your compound? Use this space to create a rain garden. This is a sunken landscape that uses local plants, local soil, and mulch to remove pollutants from water, and allows it to percolate into the ground. Not only will it look good all year round, it will also have a positive impact on the environment. If every homestead had a rain garden, think of the water that will infiltrate into the ground and add to the groundwater system.

Rain Saucer

A rain saucer is a free-standing rain collection system. A roof is not required for this, neither are gutters. All you need is a drum and a saucer-like collection system much like an upside-down umbrella unfolding to form a funnel. This is very effective in rural areas or a farm with limited roofs. This can be a self-made project to work on during this raining season. No excuses.

Borewells and recharge pits

A borewell is an open dug well which can be used to replenish underground aquifers ensuring the continuous supply of water during the dry season. We can replenish our Aquifers through Recharge. This is achieved by artificially constructed chambers known as Recharge Pits which facilitate the percolation of water back to the water table. Aquifers, springs and other water-bearing formations are identified and recharge pits are built around them to specially replenish their water content through rainfall and seepage.

Green roof

Green roof systems or living roofs are roofs that are able to manage stormwater runoff by reducing and delaying the water flow. This system is also able to keep the rainwater clean.

For a roof garden, one needs to put down a liner to protect the roof, and install a drainage system for excess runoff which is diverted into a barrel or storage tank. The plants to be planted should be of low-maintenance plants.

Ponds and pans

An excavated pond and pan are small reservoirs not more than 3 m deep which are usually dug of-stream with raised and compacted banks all around. They purpose to collect and store runoff water from various surfaces including from hillsides, roads, rocky areas and open rangeland. Ponds are constructed where there is some groundwater contribution or a high water table while pans receive their water wholly from surface runoff while. This two methods of water harvesting are essential in national parks and reserves as well as farms and grazing regions for domestic animals.

Be a water wise warrior.

Vicki Wangui is a believer in all things beautiful. A believer in spreading information in regards to environmental awareness. A believer in sharing all that is good in Kenya's natural world. A believer in speaking truth with no boundaries. Do you have a story, photo, experience or message you need to share? Send your work to vicki@nyikasilika.org or vickiwangui26@gmail.com.